Community Calendar

The Cortez Journal encourages people to submit announcements about upcoming events for the Community Calendar. Send announcements to news@cortezjournal.com. Items submitted at least two weeks in advance will have a better chance of getting published; items submitted several days before the event might not get published. For more information, call the Journal at 565-8527.

Dolores Ski and Sport Swap

The 12th annual Dolores Ski and Sport Swap will be held Saturday, Nov. 10 at the Dolores Community Center, 400 Riverside, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 749-2393.

Renew will begin the Fall/Winter Domestic and Sexual Violence Community Education Series on Monday, Nov. 12. All seminars will be held Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Four Corners Child Advocacy Center, 140 N. Linden, and will run through Wednesday, Dec. 19. All meetings are brown bag dinner; drinks and light snacks are provided. If you are interested in attending this free six-week training, call Diane at 565-4886 to register or email your name and contact information to Cheryl at director@renew-inc.org.

MECC’s November Family Night

Montelores Early Childhood Council presents “Healthy Kids Are Ready Kids!” on Thursday, Nov. 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Cortez Church of Christ Annex Building, 631 E. Montezuma Ave. (corner of Adams and Montezuma). Learn tips for making family health a fun and rewarding experience. The night will include the preparation of a healthy dinner and lots of take away gifts promoting healthy family lifestyles. Don’t miss this fun and informative evening. Call Trish Peters at 565-8389 or 560-1360 by Monday, Nov. 12 to reserve your spot and leave a message with the number of people you will be bringing so we’ll have food and gifts for all!

Annual Health Fair & Turkey Trot

The Sleeping Ute Diabetes Prevention Program will hold their Annual Health Fair & Turkey Trot from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at the Ute Mountain Casino Bingo Hall. There will be educational booths and door prizes. Everyone is welcome, and lunch will be provided. For more information, call 564-5391.

Free oral health screenings for children

Cavity Free at Three is a statewide program aimed at preventing oral disease in young children. Montelores Early Childhood Council is partnering with local physicians to join our effort and offer free oral health screenings for children ages 6 months to 3 years old, on Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 11 a.m. until noon. The event will be held at the Southwest Memorial Hospital Annex Building Community Room at 20 S. Market Street. There is no charge for the screening, which will include fluoride varnish, but you must make a reservation for your child to attend. Call Trish Peters at 565-8389 or 560-1360 to schedule an appointment for your child. Space is limited, so call today! Leave a message with your child’s name, birth date, and a number where you can be reached to confirm.

SWMH Auxiliary Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale

The Southwest Memorial Hospital Auxiliary will hold their Annual Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale on Friday, Nov. 16 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the waiting area near the gift shop. There will be lots of goodies and some great deals on early holiday shopping. For more information, call Linda Hooker at 565-2616 or Thelma Yoder at 562-4439.

Book reading for local authors Olsen, Feela

On Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. there will be a book reading with local writers Erica Olsen and David Feela at Sideshow in Dolores, 411 Central. Olsen will read selections from her new short story fiction collection “Recapture,” and Feela from his recent essay collection “How Delicate These Arches” (Colorado Book Awards Finalist) and “The Home Atlas,” a book of poetry. Both Olsen and Feela live in and write about the Four Corners region: its geography, artifacts, inhabitants and ways of life. Signed copies of their books will be for sale at this free event. For more details, call 739-4646.

Local writer will have book signing, interactive lecture

Chase mermaids with local writer Joe Keleher, author of “Beul Nam Beinn: A Merworld Fantasy,” at his interactive lecture and book signing at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16 at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market S. There is a $5 suggested donation. For more information, call the Center at 565-1151.

Methodist Church Holiday Bazaar

Candy and pies and decorations — oh, my! Plan to do your early Christmas shopping from 9 to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17 in Hampton Hall at the First United Methodist Church at 515 N. Park. Ornaments and other decorations, needlecraft, baked goodies and candy, toys and other items will be offered at reasonable prices. A complete lunch that includes a choice of homemade chicken and dumplings or chili, cornbread and pie, and a drink. Pie and beverages will also be available all morning for a donation. For more information, call Karen Bohn at 565-9273 and leave a message if there is no answer (phone will ring 10 times).

An evening with Robby Overfield and trio The Breaks

Join Durango musician, Robby Overfield and his trio, The Breaks at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17 at the Millwood Junction restaurant, corner of Hwy. 160 and Main St. in Mancos. Tickets are $12 and are available now at Southwest Sound in Durango, the Millwood Junction Restaurant in Mancos and Rocky Mountain One Stop in Cortez. Robby Overfield blends the art of storytelling and genuine lyrics with a powerful voice to complement an encapsulating listening experience. Stretching his soulful Detroit, Michigan roots, Robby Overfield and his trio have some of the best soul jams you’ve ever heard. For more info, check out www.robbyoverfield.com or his facebook page, or contact Tami Graham at 759-9716.

SWMH Foundation hosts Fall Dinner Dance benefit

A Fall Dinner Dance benefit for the Southwest Memorial Hospital Foundation will be held on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m. A delicious dinner will be served at The Farm Bistro, and will be followed by dancing at Come Dance Tonight, right next door. Southwest Health System CEO Kent Helwig will give a brief presentation about current activities and future plans for the hospital. Tickets are $75 and space is limited. Call Foundation Director Susan Thomas at 564-2156 for tickets and more information.

Guest Pastor Russell will speak at Thanksgiving conference

Mountain View Baptist Church will hold a Thanksgiving conference with speaker Dr. Rodger Russell. Dr. Russell will preach Sunday, Nov. 18 at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Mountain View Baptist Church is located on the Corner of Hwy. 184 and CR 30.5 in Dolores. Dr. Russell has served a total of 30 years as pastor of four churches in Utah and New Mexico, and has a Master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas and a Doctorate from Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in Mill Valley, Calif. For more information, call Pastor Scott Hartle at 739-4496.

Summit Lake church to host Community Thanksgiving Dinner

The Summit Lake Community Church will host a community Thanksgiving dinner again this year, to be held at 5:30 p.m. Sunday evening, Nov. 18. The church is located at 36501 Hwy. 184, just across from Summit Lake. The church will furnish the turkey and all the trimmings and drinks, and ask that the members of the community bring a side dish or dessert. This has been an annual event for several years and gives the community a chance to get together and get acquainted with new folks in the area. Everyone is welcome so if you have company, bring them too. For more information, call the church at 882-4144.

Documentary film ‘I Would Be Called John’ screens free at church

The film, “I Would Be Called John” will be shown free of charge on Monday evening, Nov. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church Parish Hall, at Montezuma and Market streets. It is the story of Cardinal Roncalli, becoming Pope John XXIII, and his involvement in Vatican II. This is a well-done and informative documentary film of this incredible and historical event in the church and the world. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call Judy Sturdevant at 560-2007.

Tables available for upcoming Elks Christmas Bazaar

The Cortez Elks Lodge, 2100 N. Dolores Rd., is offering table rentals for their upcoming 17th Annual Christmas Bazaar, to be held on Sunday, Dec. 9. Tables are now available for rent at $25 each; we will provide the table. The deadline to reserve a table is Nov. 20. The Bazaar begins at 10 a.m. and goes until 5 p.m. Entertainment will be at 2 p.m. with the arrival of Santa at 3 p.m. He will visit with all the children who attend. There will be door prizes at least every hour, and food will be available for purchase. For more information call Sally at 739-0616.

Annual Turkey Trot Fun Run/Walk

For Pets’ Sake Humane Society will hold its Ninth Annual Cortez Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 22 at the Parque de Vida Pavilion near the Cortez Recreation Center, 425 Roger Smith Avenue. The 1 mile fun run/walk starts at 10 a.m., regardless of the weather. This is probably For Pets’ Sake’s most enjoyable event of the year! The entry fee is $20 and includes a cool serene green commemorative T-shirt. Costumes for all are encouraged! Prizes will be awarded for fastest people and pets, best and best-coordinated costumes, best pet trick, most unusual pet to cross the finish line, and lots of other categories. All proceeds benefit For Pets’ Sake Humane Society and their work for the dogs and cats of Montezuma and Dolores counties. For more information call 565-PETS (565-7387).

The 23rd Annual Four Corners Board of Realtors Parade of Lights will be held Saturday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. The theme for this year’s Parade of Lights is “Sights and Sounds of Christmas.” This year’s Grand Marshal for the Parade is the Slavens family, in recognition of their longtime support and involvement in our community. There is no fee to enter a float in the parade, but an entry form must be submitted by Thursday, Nov. 29 to Terry McCabe at Century 21 West Slope Realty. Cash prizes are awarded for the best float in each of 3 categories. The Parade of Lights is held each year on the first Saturday in December, with all prizes supplied by the Four Corners Board of Realtors as their gift back to the community. For more information, call Terry McCabe at 799-4459.

Annual Dolores Community Center Christmas Bazaar

The Annual Dolores Community Center Christmas Bazaar will be held this year on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Dolores Community Center, 400 Riverside Ave. from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The bazaar already has 40 vendors signed up to display various crafts such as Christmas wreaths, scarves, candles, homemade breads, pies and pumpkin rolls. There will also be handmade aprons, ornaments, quilts, afghans, leather items, toys, artwork and jewelry of all kinds. Come and do your special Christmas shopping. Refreshments are being provided by the Girl Scouts and all proceeds will go to the Dolores Community Center. Contact Ruby Gonzales for more information at 882-7717.

Catholic Daughters’ Christmas Bazaar

The Catholic Daughters’ Christmas Bazaar will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 2 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church Hall, 28 E. Montezuma Ave., Cortez. Breakfast burritos will be served on Saturday from 8 to 11 a.m. and Navajo tacos will be served from noon to 3 p.m. The Junior Catholic Daughters will serve soup for lunch on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Craft items, gift baskets, baked goods, stocking stuffers, wreaths, Christmas items, and homemade gifts are some of the items that will be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit our organization, which in turn supports local, national and global charities. For more information, call Elva at 565-8741 or Lucy at 564-1468.

Series of Christian conversations

“How You Can Be Part of a Christian Community With Integrity and Not Believe All Those Things You Thought You Had to Believe.” On Tuesday, Dec. 3, this series of conversations will continue at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 110 W. North Street (corner of North and Elm). The topic for the evening is “What/who is God for You?” Everyone is welcomed. These gatherings are for folks who can’t reconcile what they believe the church requires with their life experience; who don’t want to check their minds at a church door; or who just don’t want to live in a world they think the Christian church espouses but who might value being part of a community of faith. Questions are required. No answers are promised. Call 565-7865 for information.